#8609 • 17th C. Vietnamese Queen's Porcelain Tea Cup Set

Part of Empress Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau & More (timed auction by GWS Auctions)

Starting at $1.00

Status: Sold

Est. $1,000-$1,000,000 17th C. Vietnamese Queen's Blue & White Porcelain Tea Cup Set W/Metal Rims (Has Four Character Mark) From Queen Mother Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau - This porcelain tea cup set is decorated in blue underglaze, with an elaborate scene of ducks, phoenix and lotus blossoms. The set includes four cups, one lidded serving cup and one basin. The pieces are finished with metal rims, as selected vessels were finished with metal rims as early as the Han dynasty to set them apart from the ordinary, and to make them suitable for high class clients. This also protects them from damage. Each piece bears a four character marking in blue underglaze. This piece comes from the estate of a Vietnamese Royal Family (the family now lives in the United States, and wishes to remain private), and once belonged to the Queen Mother Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau (Empress Dowager Doan Huy) who kept the piece in her personal collection before it was passed down. Empress Dowager Doan Huy was the last queen of the Nguyen dynasty, and the mother of Emperor Bao Dai. Upon being named Empress Dowager, Tu Cung immersed herself in Chinese, French, and Vietnamese, learning the etiquette and protocol related to daily life in the Hue Royal court. After the fall of Nguyen Dynasty while her son Emperor Bao Dai went into exile, the Empress remained and devoted herself to preserving the former capital of Hue. She sponsored the restoration of Thai Temple and other war torn mausoleums of Nguyen royals. This is a true modern day treasure, and a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a piece of Vietnamese history. This piece has excellent investment potential, as it is thought by experts around the world and avid collectors that due to the rapid modernization of Vietnam, Vietnamese antiques will within the next ten years be more valuable than Chinese antiques. According to some of the most expert collectors in the world, what used to sell for hundreds are now selling for tens of thousands. This is a very thin piece, as was common during this time period (please see photos). Measurements: small cups-2" diameter x 1.5"H, large cup-4" diameter x 2.75"H, basin-4.75" diameter x 2"H.